The Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes in Córdoba will play host to the opening round clash of the 2025 Rugby Championship between Argentina and New Zealand. The city becomes Argentina’s ninth to play host to Los Pumas in the tournament.
Argentina prepared for the Rugby Championship with four matches. Los Pumas defeated the British & Irish Lions in Dublin in June before losing a home series against England and defeating Uruguay in July. New Zealand warmed-up by winning three home test matches against France.
The 2025 Rugby Championship is the fourteenth edition of the annual competition between Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Argentina joined in 2012. The competition determines the best team from the Southern Hemisphere annually.
However, the arrival of the Nations Championship and South Africa vs New Zealand contesting “The Greatest Rugby Rivalry” in 2026 is set affect the Rugby Championship with it changing to be played on a biennial basis. This means that after 2025, there will only be one normal Rugby Championship in the following five years. There will be no Rugby Champions in 2026, 2028 or 2030 and reduced Rugby Championships in 2027 and 2031. Only 2029 will feature a normal format with two matches between all competitors.
The 2025 Rugby Championship sees Argentina having two home matches against New Zealand for the first time in tournament history. This is a reverse of the 2024 and 2022 tournaments in which New Zealand had home advantage for the two matches between the teams in both years.
Córdoba and Buenos Aires host the two fixtures in the 2025 Rugby Championship. This gives Julián Montoya and his team two opportunities to claim a first-ever home victory over New Zealand. Los Pumas enter the match having defeated all three of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in 2024 and writing history against the British & Irish Lions to open 2025.
FORM GUIDE
Current World Ranking: 7 (82.05 points)
2025-07-19 – Argentina 52-17 Uruguay (Salta, AR)
2025-07-12 – Argentina 17-22 England (San Juan, AR)
2025-07-05 – Argentina 12-35 England (La Plata, AR)
2025-06-20 – British & Irish Lions 24-28 Argentina (Dublin, IE)
Current World Ranking: 2 (92.06 points)
2025-07-19 – New Zealand 29-19 France (Hamilton, NZ)
2025-07-12 – New Zealand 43-12 France (Wellington, NZ)
2025-07-05 – New Zealand 31-27 France (Dunedin, NZ)
IN
OUT
3
Pedro Delgado
Francisco Gómez Kodela
4
Franco Molina
Guido Petti
7
Marcos Kremer
Benjamín Grondona
8
Joaquín Oviedo
Joaquín Moro
9
Gonzalo García
Simón Benítez Cruz
10
Tomás Albornoz
Nicolás Roger
11
Bautista Delguy
Santiago Pernas
12
Santiago Chocobares
Justo Piccardo
13
Lucio Cinti
Matías Moroni
IN
OUT
2
Codie Taylor
Samisoni Taukei’aho
3
Fletcher Newell
Tyrel Lomax
4
Scott Barrett
Patrick Tuipulotu
6
Tupou Vaa’i
Samipeni Finau
7
Du’Plessis Kirifi
Ardie Savea
8
Ardie Savea
Luke Jacobson
10
Beauden Barrett
Damian McKenzie
12
Jordie Barrett
Quinn Tupaea
13
Billy Proctor
Anton Lienert-Brown
15
Will Jordan
Ruben Love
– Pablo Matera (112), Julián Montoya (108), Guido Petti (89), Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro (79), Marcos Kremer (73), Santiago Carreras (55), Juan Cruz Mallía (42), Juan Martín Gonzalez (42).
– Beauden Barrett (136), C Taylor (99), Ardie Savea (97), Anton Lienert-Brown (85), Rieko Ioane (83), Scott Barrett (81), Jordie Barrett (71), Damian McKenzie (64), Patrick Tuipulotu (53).
– Simón Benítez Cruz (3), Pedro Delgado (4), Justo Piccardo (4), Rodrigo Isgró (9), Gonzalo García (11), Franco Molina (12).
– Ollie Norris (2), Fabian Holland (3), Du’Plessis Kirifi (3), Billy Proctor (4), Pasilio Tosi (9), Samipeni Finau (11), Cortez Ratima (14).
– Ignacio Calles (LH), Thomas Gallo (LH), Eduardo Bello (TH), Efraín Elías (LO), Tomás Lavanini (LO), Gonzalo Bertranou (SH), Matías Moroni (CE), Mateo Carreras (WI)
– Tamaiti Williams (LH), Tyrel Lomax (TH), Ofa Tu’ungafasi (TH), Luke Jacobson (FL), Wallace Sititi (N8), Cam Roigard (SH), Caleb Clarke (WI)
Argentina is targeting a first-ever home win over New Zealand. Los Pumas defeated the All Blacks in 2020 in Sydney, Australia and in 2022 and 2024 in New Zealand.
Justo Piccardo and Simón Benítez Cruz will make their Rugby Championship debuts. Benítez Cruz has signed for Newcastle Red Bulls and Piccardo for Montpellier.
Gonzalo García, Tomás Albornoz, Juan Cruz Mallía, Santiago Chocobares, Marcos Kremer, Bautista Delguy, Mateo Carreras, Joaquín Oviedo and Ignacio Ruiz all sat out the test matches in July.
Mateo Carreras is also notably absent against New Zealand. This is tactical with Felipe Contepomi having favored Bautista Delguy’s aerial game.
Pedro Delgado replaces Francisco Gómez Kodela who has retired. It sees a Super Rugby Americas prop starting ahead of Joel Sclavi while fellow French-based prop, Francisco Coria misses out on the 23.
No Tight Head has held down the starting position for Argentina against New Zealand since Joel Sclavi did so in 2022. Lucio Sordoni started in Auckland in 2024 and Eduardo Bello in Wellington. Francisco Gómez Kodela started the World Cup Semi Final in Paris in 2023.
Pablo Matera will earn his 113th cap for Argentina. He is the most capped Puma in history.
Argentina’s halves pairing of Gonzalo García and Tomás Albornoz is the first-ever all Tucumán combination.
Codie Taylor will earn his 99th cap for the All Blacks while Ardie Savea will earn his 98th.
Beauden Barrett will earn his 137th cap. He has a New Zealand record of 21 caps against Los Pumas.
Argentina last hosted New Zealand in 2023. The All Blacks won 41-12 in Mendoza.
The All Blacks have never previously played a test match in Córdoba. Argentina’s previous home test matches against New Zealand took place in Buenos Aires, La Plata and Mendoza.
New Zealand has played uncapped matches in Córdoba province. The All Blacks won 30-13 in 1976 against a mainland selection, and against Córdoba in 1985 and 1991 by scorelines of 72-9 and 38-9.
Los Pumas have previously played five test matches in Córdoba. The first was a 49-30 win over Fiji in 2003.
Four of Los Pumas’ 23 are Cordobeses: Juan Cruz Mallía (Jockey Club Cordobesa), Franco Molina (Jockey Club Cordobesa), Santiago Carreras (Córdoba Athletic) and Joaquín Oviedo (Córdoba Athletic).
Córdoba becomes the 9th Argentine city to host Los Pumas in a Rugby Championship test match. It follows Buenos Aires, La Plata, Mendoza, Rosario, Salta, San Juan, Santa Fe and Santiago del Estero.
New Zealand is unbeaten in 2025 but, arguably, won against France without the authority of teams from years gone by. Argentina fell to England and defeated the British & Irish Lions and Uruguay. The matches saw player rotation with an eye to having players at their peak for the Rugby Championship. After a long wait, Córdoba will play host to a first-ever Rugby Championship fixture. The opportunity has the locals excited; under 1,500 of 57,000 tickets remained on Wednesday. Pleasant weather is forecast for the Saturday evening fixture. New Zealand are favorites to win in Córdoba.
ARGENTINA
#
PLAYER
FROM
CAPS
1
Mayco Vivas
Rafaela
31
2
Julián Montoya (capt.)
Buenos Aires
108
3
Pedro Delgado
Santiago del Estero
4
4
Franco Molina
Córdoba
12
5
Pedro Rubiolo
Rafaela
23
6
Pablo Matera (vice-capt.)
Buenos Aires
112
7
Marcos Kremer
Concordia
73
8
Joaquín Oviedo
Córdoba
13
9
Gonzalo García
Tucumán
11
10
Tomás Albornoz
Tucumán
17
11
Bautista Delguy
Buenos Aires
33
12
Santiago Chocobares
Rufino
27
13
Lucio Cinti
La Plata
34
14
Rodrigo Isgró
Mendoza
9
15
Juan Cruz Mallía
Córdoba
42
16
Ignacio Ruiz
Buenos Aires
18
17
Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro
General Juan Madariaga
79
18
Joel Sclavi
Mar del Plata
27
19
Guido Petti
Buenos Aires
89
20
Juan Martín Gonzalez
Mendoza
42
21
Simón Benítez Cruz
Buenos Aires
3
22
Santiago Carreras
Córdoba
55
23
Justo Piccardo
Buenos Aires
4
NEW ZEALAND
#
PLAYER
HOMEGROWN
CAPS
1
Ethan de Groot
New Zealand
32
2
Codie Taylor
New Zealand
98
3
Fletcher Newell
New Zealand
25
4
Scott Barrett (Capt.)
New Zealand
81
5
Fabian Holland
Netherlands
3
6
Tupou Vaa’i
New Zealand
40
7
Du’Plessis Kirifi
New Zealand
3
8
Ardie Savea (vice-capt.)
New Zealand
97
9
Cortez Ratima
New Zealand
14
10
Beauden Barrett
New Zealand
136
11
Rieko Ioane
New Zealand
83
12
Jordie Barrett (vice-capt.)
New Zealand
71
13
Billy Proctor
New Zealand
4
14
Sevu Reece
Fiji
34
15
Will Jordan
New Zealand
44
16
Samisoni Taukei’aho
Tonga
33
17
Ollie Norris
New Zealand
2
18
Pasilio Tosi
New Zealand
9
19
Patrick Tuipulotu
New Zealand
53
20
Samipeni Finau
New Zealand
11
21
Finlay Christie
New Zealand
23
22
Anton Lienert-Brown
New Zealand
85
23
Damian McKenzie
New Zealand
64
Date: Saturday, August 16
Venue: Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes, Córdoba (AR)
Kickoff: 6:10pm (AR); 9:10am (NZ)
Weather Forecast: Sunny, 16°C, wind (8 km/h)
Broadcasts: ESPN; Disney +
Referee: Pierre Brousset (France)
Assistant Referees: Nic Berry (Australia); Morné Ferreira (South Africa)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
FPRO: Damon Murphy (Australia)
vs HISTORY
Aug 17, 2024 – New Zealand 42-10 Argentina (Auckland, NZ)
Aug 10, 2024 – New Zealand 30-38 Argentina (Wellington, NZ)
Oct 20, 2023 – New Zealand 44-06 Argentina (Paris, FR)*
Jul 08, 2023 – Argentina 12-41 New Zealand (Mendoza, AR)
Sep 03, 2022 – New Zealand 53-3 Argentina (Hamilton, NZ)
Aug 08, 2022 – New Zealand 18-25 Argentina (Christchurch, NZ)
Sep 18, 2021 – New Zealand 36-13 Argentina (Brisbane, AU)
Sep 12, 2021 – New Zealand 39-0 Argentina (Gold Coast, AU)
Nov 28, 2020 – New Zealand 38-0 Argentina (Newcastle, AU)
Nov 14, 2020 – New Zealand 15-25 Argentina (Sydney, AU)
Jul 20, 2019 – Argentina 16-20 New Zealand (Buenos Aires, AR)
Sep 29, 2018 – Argentina 17-35 New Zealand (Buenos Aires, AR)
Sep 08, 2018 – New Zealand 46-24 New Zealand (Nelson, NZ)
Sep 30, 2017 – Argentina 10-36 New Zealand (Buenos Aires, AR)
Sep 09, 2017 – New Zealand 39-22 Argentina (New Plymouth, NZ)
Oct 01, 2016 – Argentina 17-36 New Zealand (Buenos Aires, AR)
Sep 10, 2016 – New Zealand 57-22 Argentina (Hamilton, NZ)
Sep 20, 2015 – New Zealand 26-16 Argentina (London, UK) *
Jul 17, 2015 – New Zealand 39-18 Argentina (Christchurch, NZ)
Sep 27, 2014 – Argentina 13-34 New Zealand (La Plata, AR)
Sep 06, 2014 – New Zealand 28-09 Argentina (Napier, NZ)
Sep 28, 2013 – Argentina 15-33 New Zealand (La Plata, AR)
Sep 07, 2013 – New Zealand 28-13 Argentina (Hamilton, NZ)
Sep 29, 2012 – Argentina 15-54 New Zealand (La Plata, AR)
Sep 08, 2012 – New Zealand 21-05 Argentina (Wellington, NZ)
Oct 09, 2011 – New Zealand 33-10 Argentina (Auckland, NZ) *
Jun 24, 2006 – Argentina 19-25 New Zealand (Buenos Aires, NZ)
Jun 26, 2004 – New Zealand 41-07 Argentina (Hamilton, NZ)
Dec 01, 2001 – Argentina 20-24 New Zealand (Buenos Aires, AR)
Jun 22, 2001 – New Zealand 67-19 Argentina (Christchurch, NZ)
Jun 28, 1997 – New Zealand 62-10 Argentina (Hamilton, NZ)
Jun 21, 1997 – New Zealand 93-08 Argentina (Wellington, NZ)
Jul 13, 1991 – Argentina 06-36 New Zealand (Buenos Aires, AR)
Jul 06, 1991 – Argentina 14-28 New Zealand (Buenos Aires, AR)
Jul 29, 1989 – New Zealand 49-12 Argentina (Wellington, NZ)
Jul 15, 1989 – New Zealand 60-09 Argentina (Dunedin, NZ)
Jun 01, 1987 – New Zealand 45-15 Argentina (Wellington, NZ) *
Nov 02, 1985 – Argentina 21-21 New Zealand (Buenos Aires, AR)
Oct 26, 1985 – Argentina 20-23 New Zealand (Buenos Aires, AR)
* Rugby World Cup Match
vs OVERALL RESULTS
New Zealand Wins 35
Argentina Wins 3
Draws 1